Princeton Schools Could Receive $740K More in State Aid

Princeton Regional Schools could see an additional $741,000 in 2011-12 state aid under a plan announced by Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday.

"It's another bit of relief, heading in the right direction towards economic stability and property tax relief," Superintendent Judy Wilson said. 

But Wilson noted that that the money will likely come with some restrictions and she has not yet heard what those might be. 

Christie's latest funding plan is a boost for Princeton Schools, but it still leaves the district 60 percent below where it was in 2009-10, Wilson said. 

In March, 2010, the district saw a $3.7 million budget cut. This latest boost means the state has only returned 40 percent of that cut to the local district, she said. 

She said the Princeton's Board of Education will will now discuss how to use the money, whether it goes into next year's budget, towards property tax relief, technology or facilities. 

Christie's plan for $850 million in new aid for fiscal year 2011-12 includes the governor’s initial $250 million increase for all districts, an additional $450 million for the Abbott districts and an additional $150 million for non-Abbott districts.

This means that total state total state aid to education will be higher in 2011-12 than when Christie took office.

“This year, New Jersey increased state aid to school districts by $850 million over last year, restoring every dollar of the cuts we were forced to make last year and increasing aid by an additional $30 million,” Christie said in a prepared statement.

Princeton schools received $1,746,680 in state aid in 2010-11. Until today, Princeton was slated to receive $2,488,089 for 2011-12. Now Princeton could receive a total of $3,229,498, under Christie’s proposal.